kevmap

TechniquesT1518.002 › AN0242

AN0242 Analytic 0242

macOS · attack.mitre.org · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2

<p>Defender detects execution of mdfind, launchctl, or GUI-based enumeration (e.g., /Applications/Time Machine.app) along with command-line usage of find, grep, or system_profiler to identify installed backup tools like Time Machine, Carbon Copy Cloner, or Backblaze. Often triggered from Terminal sessions or within post-exploitation scripts.</p>
Detects
T1518.002 Backup Software Discovery
Part of
DET0088 Backup Software Discovery via CLI, Registry, and Process Inspection (T1518.002)

Log sources and channels

Exactly as MITRE states them in x_mitre_log_source_references. Where a channel is vague, it is vague in the source; kevmap does not tidy it.

Log sourceChannelData component
macos:unifiedlogProcess execution logs showing discovery commands like mdfind, system_profiler, or launchctl listDC0032 Process Creation
macos:unifiedlogRead access to Time Machine plist files or CCC configurations in ~/Library/Preferences/DC0055 File Access

Mutable elements

Parameters MITRE marks as environment-specific. These are the knobs you are expected to tune; they are why an analytic is not a rule.

FieldDescription
InstallLocationScopeDirectories or bundles where backup tools are commonly installed
KnownAppPlistPathsPlist files related to backup software configurations